The April meeting of the GFWC Book Lovers Study Club was held at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Hostesses were Debbie Beason and JoAnn Graham.

The program, Operation Smile, was presented by Leah Masterson.

Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of safe surgeries for those born with cleft lips and cleft palates. With more than three decades of expertise, Operation Smile creates solutions that deliver free surgery to people where it’s needed most.

We learned that as one of the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofits, Operation Smile has mobilized thousands of medical volunteers from a wide range of medical specialties in more than 80 countries.

Operation Smile engages public-private partnerships to advance healthcare delivery, train local medical professionals to provide surgical care for patients in their communities, donate crucial medical equipment and supplies and increase access to surgical care so that everyone living with cleft is treated.

Operation Smile has been supported by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs for numerous years. Their donations have helped to transform the lives of children by providing free cleft surgery.

These surgeries not only change children’s smiles but also transform lives and remove barriers, to help them achieve their dreams.

It takes as few as 45 minutes and as little as $240 to change a life forever.

Through the years, GFWC Book Lovers Study Club has supported Operation Smile through monetary donations and supporting their projects. This month’s project is making Operation Smile’s “smile bags.” Members have volunteered to cut, assemble and sew smile bags that will be sent to Operation Smile.

Club President Patricia Cox presented information regarding the Huntsville Diabetes WALK for Camp Seale Harris, which will be held April 18 from 1-5 p.m. This walk supports the AFWC President Randy Matthews’ President’s Project for her administration.

The Alabama North District Spring Meeting will be held May 1 in Huntsville. A memorial service for club members who have passed away in the past year will be conducted. Dot Murphy, a longtime Book Lovers member, will be recognized in the service.

Civic Engagement and Outreach Chairperson Brenda Oliver addressed the problem of garbage and trash being set out on the downtown streets over the weekend. It was suggested that members attend a council meeting to promote awareness of this issue and ask for a change in pickup days to lessen this problem.

The meeting concluded with reading the Collect, and members visited Russellville Florist and Gifts to see the beautiful spring items in the store.